Chapter Text
Han used the spare hotel room key that Minho had given him to let himself into Minho’s room. He padded over to the bed as quietly as possible and lifted the sheets, climbing in next to his boyfriend.
“Mmm,” Minho grumbled, stirring as Han tucked himself against his side. “I sure hope that’s a quokka in my bed and not someone else.”
Han giggled quietly. “Who else have you given your hotel room key to?”
Minho smirked. “Oh, I hand those out like candy,” he joked, a devious look growing on his face despite his eyes still being closed.
Han playfully smacked him on the chest. “That’s not funny,” he said as he laughed.
Minho pulled Han closer to him and turned his head to give him a light kiss on the forehead. “Why are you up so early, bug?” he asked.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Han mumbled.
“What kept you awake?” Minho asked, sleepily scratching the back of Han’s head.
Han shrugged and took a few moments to consider how to explain himself. “Do you ever feel sad that we can’t be out?” Han asked quietly.
Minho finally opened his eyes and peered down at the rapper. “Why are you thinking about that?”
“I don’t know,” Han said, letting out a sigh. “Every night I’m on stage singing about how happy I am with you… but no one knows the truth.”
Minho wrapped another arm around Han. “Well, I know, Han-ah. And all the people who are close to us know.”
Han nodded and cuddled closer to Minho’s chest. “You’re right. We’re lucky for that.”
Han closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. Minho really was right. The people most important to them knew and accepted them. And they fought hard to make it this far. He didn’t know why it was suddenly bothering him that more people didn’t know.
In the past, it was always Han that was hesitant about being out. Minho had much more experience telling people. But, deep down, Han knew they didn’t really have a choice. The company would never let them be out publicly, despite the fact that most staff already knew. He shouldn’t push the issue with Minho when there was nothing they could do.
But maybe that wasn’t totally true…
Minho doesn’t know this but Han had been the one to come up with the idea for the “Youth” stage to follow his own “Hold My Hand” stage on tour. Since Han’s song is about Minho, he loved the idea of Minho getting to watch back stage as he sang it every night. Plus, Stay always gave Han the reaction he dreamed of. They were always put in an extra good mood just in time for Minho to do his thing. Han loved that he got to prepare them to experience Minho’s stage. Staff hadn’t even questioned him when he asked for rainbow confetti to drop during the song’s peak. It was a touch that Minho appreciated.
Han loved thinking back to the first time he played “Hold My Hand” for Minho. He had played a lot of songs for Minho before, but he knew this one was special.
Han rolled his eyes internally as he thought back to what Minho had said at the time.
“Oh, an upbeat song about us for once?” Minho purred through a cheeky smile.
“Hey, ‘Want So Bad’ was upbeat!” Han countered.
“That’s true,” Minho agreed before continuing. “But this one is different. You seem extra confident in this one.” Minho paused. “Are you sure you’re ready to sing this on stage every night?”
Han smiled as he remembered how his response was to kiss Minho silly, eager to prove just how very proud he was to sing this song on stage.
There also happened to be a transition moment between the two stages where Han and Minho got to interact. It’s one of the only times that the two of them have been able to be on stage alone together. Han had always wondered whether he could do something more with this moment. Something to show Stay what they meant to each other, even if he couldn’t say it explicitly.
——
As they continued their day in Osaka in preparation for three days of concerts, Han couldn’t stop thinking about the moment between their stages. He itched to show the world what Minho meant to him. He wanted to surprise the older, but not do something too obvious that would get them both in trouble.
It was during one of the early stages where it finally hit him… he would add in Minho’s name to his finally verse and he would bow to him. A respectful, 90-degree bow that every Japanese Stay in the stadium would understand.
He felt extra energized during his “Hold My Hand” stage this time. His confidence was on a high, knowing what he was about to do. Admittedly, the idea of breaking the rules made him a little excited. His own way of saying f*** you to a world that didn’t allow him to publicly love who he wanted to.
As he approached the end of the song, he felt Minho’s presence behind him, as he always does. His body always reacted without even seeing the dancer. Finally, he reached the end of the song.
He grabbed the mic with two hands. “Minho hyung!” He began, closing his eyes. “Hold my hand now!”
He turned and found Minho directly behind him, mouthing the words. Han met his eyes with a wide smile on his face and a gleam in his eyes. Han could tell Minho was surprised but trying not to show it. Minho looked off to the side, failing to hide his blush.
As always, Han moved the mic to the side of the stage for staff to grab. Then, he turned back around and bowed deeply in front of Minho. He took one final look at Minho before heading off stage, unable to hide the huge smile on his face.
He did it.
And, after seeing his boyfriend’s reaction... he already felt the urge to do even more.